The Future of AI is Built on Sustainability

Summary

Emily Thomas discusses the deep connection between AI scaling and sustainability. She outlines three lenses—responsibility, risk, and return—for investors evaluating AI's infrastructure needs and societal impact. The talk emphasizes data center energy demand growth and the opportunity in enabling technologies.

• Data centers currently consume 6% of US electricity, potentially rising to 20% by 2035.
• Leading tech companies report ~25% annual energy consumption growth.
• AI scaling requires responsible resource use: energy, water, materials.
• Governance and regulation (e.g., EU AI Act) are key risk factors.
• Infrastructure buildout faces permitting and community support challenges.
• AI is reshaping workforce with near-term productivity gains and longer-term displacement risks.
• Investors should consider 'picks and shovels' like power, grid, cooling, data centers, critical materials.
• Companies managing responsibility and risk may achieve better long-term returns.